Unit 2 Flashcards
Describe light as a wave
Light is electromagnetic radiation, consisting of an oscillating electric field and magnetic field (waves)
What is 3.0 x 10^8 m/s
The speed of light
What determines colour?
Wavelength
As the wavelength size becomes smaller (moves further right on the spectrum), does energy increase or decrease?
More energy is carried with a smaller wavelength (further on the spectrum)
What is a blackbody?
A theoretical object that that absorbs ALL radiation hitting it and is a perfect emitter of EM
What does Wien’s displacement tell us?
The Max wavelength of an object is inversely proportional to temperature: Smaller wavelengths have more energy and therefore are hotter (blue)
What does Wien’s law tell us about solar vs terrestrial radiation?
The peak of solar radiation is around 500 nm in the visible range, terrestrial radiation is in the infrared and therefore is not visible to us
Compare Active and Passive remote sensing
Active includes sensors that have their own energy (LIDAR)
Passive relies on energy from a different source like reflective from the sun
What are the two kinds of reflectance?
Specular or Mirror-like Reflectance (smooth surfaces)
Diffuse Reflection (rough surfaces)
Why does water show up black when using near-infrared in Landsat imagery?
Water’s spectral reflectance signature is only present in the Blue, Green, and Red part of the spectrum (absorbs other wavelengths)
Are real-world surfaces Lambertian?
No, most surfaces are non-Lambertian. They do not reflect light equally in all directions.
What is the Bidirectional Reflectance Function (BDRF)?
The consideration of the direction of incidence radiation as well as the viewing direction. The differences in angle change the amount of energy being detected.
When does a “hot spot” occur?
When the viewing angle is the same as the angle of the sun.
What phenomenon of BDRF is the result of specular reflection?
Sun Glint
When does atmospheric scattering occur?
Radiation is redirected out of the incident path but the wavelength of the scattered light doesn’t change.